How life has changed in Epping Forest

Epping Forest's population increased by about 3,800 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the most notable changes among the local population.

The population passed 120,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Epping Forest increased by 3.1%, from just under 121,000 to 125,000.

The addition of almost 3,800 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Epping Forest was home to, on average, 2.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Epping Forest

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Epping Forest increased by three years, from 39 to 42 years.

This area had a higher average age than Eastof England and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 3,300 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 3,000.

About 12.0% of people in Epping Forest are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Epping Forest by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Epping Forest residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.0% to 1.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.7%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 0.9% in 2001 to 1.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Epping Forest remained close to 1.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Epping Forest by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Epping Forest

The percentage of Epping Forest residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.7% to 3.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.5%, while the percentage of Epping Forest residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89.7%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Epping Forest

Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation in Epping Forest, the largest percentage point increase was among those who said they had no religion, rising 9.2 points between 2001 and 2011. The census question about religion is voluntary, so varying response rates mean caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

In 2011, 24.3% of respondents in Epping Forest said they had no religion, up from 15.2% in 2001.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of respondents who described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.2% to 30.0%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Around 66.8% of respondents in Epping Forest said they were Christian, down from 78.1% in 2001. About 3.4% said they were Jewish, up from 3.3% a decade prior.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Epping Forest increased by 9.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, East and Epping Forest by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Epping Forest, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Epping Forest, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.9% in 2001 to 11.0% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 14.6%.

The rate of social housing in Epping Forest fell from 16.0% to 15.0%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 74.5% to 72.3%.

Private renting in Epping Forest increased by 4.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Epping Forest, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Epping Forest working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15.8% to 12.8% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.7% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 14.7% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Epping Forest decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Epping Forest, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Epping Forest residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.4% to 4.6% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83.0%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71.8% in 2001. The percentage of Epping Forest residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20.8% to 12.4%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Epping Forest decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Epping Forest, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Epping Forest residents that were self-employed increased from 12.5% to 14.6% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 52.3%, while the percentage of Epping Forest residents that were unemployed increased from 2.6% to 3.6%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 9.3% in 2001 to 10.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Epping Forest

In 2011, 4.8% of Epping Forest residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 2.8% in 2001. The 1.9 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 2.8% to 5.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 90.5% of people in Epping Forest said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 95.1% in 2001. About 2.1% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 1.0% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.8% to 1.9%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Epping Forest increased by 1.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Epping Forest by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Epping Forest, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.1% to 9.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage that had only one person remained close to 29.1%, while the percentage of households in Epping Forest which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 39.4% to 36.4%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.8% in 2001 to 10.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

The percentage of adults in Epping Forest that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.8% to 10.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in two (50.1%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 54.5% in 2001. The percentage of single people in Epping Forest increased from 27.1% to 31.3%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 10.4% in 2001 to 11.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 10.6% to 11.6%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Epping Forest without children decreased from 60.1% to 59.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage that had at least one dependent child remained close to 28.8%, while the percentage of households in Epping Forest with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 11.5%.

The proportion of households without children fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (which remained close to 60.8%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61.2%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

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